Belfast's Literature Is 'Open Book'

A gathering of Belfast's writers will be held next month to mark the official launch of a series of initiatives highlighting the city's literary heritage and vibrant contemporary scene.

On Tuesday 6 September, Belfast City Council and partners will officially launch the 'Literary Belfast', with a gala evening at the Ulster Hall, featuring 14 top local writers reading from their works.

For the first time ever, some of the city's most internationally renowned novelists, playwrights and poets - Colin Bateman, Ciaran Carson, Patricia Craig, Leontia Flynn, Marie Jones, Michael Longley, Martin Lynch, Bernard MacLaverty, Owen McCafferty, Sinead Morrissey, Paul Muldoon, Frank Ormsby, David Park and Glenn Patterson – will take to the stage to celebrate the growing literary contribution of the Capital.

"The United Kingdom currently features as number one in a list, compiled by TripAdvisor, of the top ten literary destinations in the world, and literary tourism contributes up to £2.6 billion a year to the British economy," said Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of the council’s Development Committee.

"To help us capitalise upon this massive market, our Literary Tourism Plan has been significantly enhanced by a successful application to the NITB’s Tourism Innovation Fund, and new partnerships which have been established with Queen’s University, the BBC and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland," he added.

A number of initiatives have been developed to help people explore Belfast's literary landscape, all of which are being officially launched at the 6 September gala.

These include a new Literary Belfast iPhone app, a Belfast poets and writers exhibition and the opening of the BBC Literary Archive at the City Hall, new and enhanced literary tours and trails, a revamped C.S. Lewis exhibition and a new website, www.LiteraryBelfast.org.

Alderman Stalford said: "These products present a unique, individual and compelling experience for visitors and promote our modern culture, characters and writers, poets and playwrights on the world stage."

The new initiatives have been funded by Belfast City Council and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland and administered by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Tickets for the gala on Tuesday 6 September, starting at 8pm, cost £5 and are available in person from the box offices at either the Belfast Waterfront or the Ulster Hall, by calling 028 9033 4455 or via www.ulsterhall.co.uk.

(DW/BMcC)